Local surfer’s stretching, chanting, and specific sequence of wax application shows zero correlation with ride quality, according to nobody who asked
ENCINITAS Local surfer Kyle Ferrante has performed the same elaborate seventeen-step pre-session ritual before every single surf outing for six years, a routine involving specific stretches, a whispered personal mantra, and a precise wax application pattern he insists is “non-negotiable,” despite what this reporter’s admittedly unscientific observation suggests is zero measurable connection to how well he actually surfs afterward.
The Full Ritual, As Witnessed
Twelve minutes of stretching performed in a specific, unchanging order. A whispered phrase Ferrante declined to share, citing its “sacred” nature. Wax applied in a deliberate spiral pattern he learned, he says, from “a guy” whose actual credentials remain unclear. All of this before even touching the water.
The Actual Performance Data
Over three observed sessions, Ferrante’s ride quality varied considerably regardless of ritual completion, including one notably strong session that began after he’d forgotten two full steps, a data point he dismissed immediately as “clearly an outlier.”
Ferrante’s Own Explanation
“I’m not saying it’s scientifically proven,” Ferrante said, adjusting his stance in a way that appeared to be step nine of the ritual despite occurring mid-interview, well away from any actual surfboard. “I’m saying I’ve never once skipped it and had a truly terrible session, so why would I risk it.”
Expert Skepticism
A sports psychologist reached for comment, who asked not to be named for reasons she described only as “professional,” suggested this pattern reflects a well-documented human tendency to attribute causation to unrelated pre-performance rituals, a phenomenon she called “extremely common and largely harmless, assuming it doesn’t take fifteen minutes.”
Whether Ferrante Plans to Change Anything
Absolutely not, he confirmed, already halfway through step three by the interview’s end. “If it’s not broken,” he said, not finishing the sentence, already whispering something this reporter was specifically asked not to transcribe. Further Encinitas surf culture coverage continues at bohiney.com.
SOURCE: https://bohiney.com